A thug broke a man's jaw in two places and made homophobic comments about his victim, despite being homosexual himself, a court heard.

After the attack, Robert Jackson gloated about what he had done in text messages.

One said: "I just knocked some queer's front teeth out." Another read: "...ha ha ha. I didn't know I hit him so hard."

The 21-year-old hairdresser, of Ebbsfleet Walk, Northfleet, admitted unlawfully wounding Lloyd Sceats. He was also in breach of a conditional discharge and suspended sentence. He was jailed for two years eight months at Maidstone Crown Court.

Jackson, who has a bright red Mohican hairstyle, had been drinking and taken cocaine when the assault happened outside The Grove nightclub in The Grove, Gravesend, in the early hours of February 27.

The victim had intervened in an argument Jackson was having with a woman by a burger van. Jackson punched him several times.

"It was a sustained and repeated attack," said prosecutor Jo Cope. "It seemed to be motivated by sexual orientation, although I understand the defendant is also homosexual."

Mr Sceats had to have an operation to repair fractures, involving plates, mesh and pins, and it was several weeks before he was discharged from hospital care.

Giles Newell, defending, said Jackson had difficulties with drink and drugs and his sexuality, which had not been accepted by his family.

"The fact is he is homosexual," he said. "He has come out to everyone that matters in his life. He cannot explain why he resorted to violence."